Below find a run-down of all the films seen at this year’s festival. As time permits a more elaborate critique (features only) will appear under the label “Film Box-Office.” They will be identified with the 'I + N 2011' logo. Updates will appear on a frequent basis (hopefully once a day) so please visit frequently.

Ten-year-old Laure moves to a new neighborhood with her
parents and little sister Jeanne. She meets Lisa. She lies, says her name is Michaël. When
she joins in play with the local children she must go to great lengths to keep
up the facade that she is a boy. The subject of transgender identity is handled
without judgement in a way that reflects the innocence and natural tendencies
of children; strongly emphasised in the casting of the children. The audience
is left to make its own conclusion as to why Laure decided to pretend she was a
boy.

Martin has just joined the high school swim team, coached by Sebastian. He begins to weave a web of lies in the hope that he could sleepover at Sebastian’s condo. When he succeeds, Sebastian warns him not to tell anyone as just the fact that a teacher allowed a student to sleepover could cause a lot of trouble. When Sebastian overhears gossip in the teacher’s lounge the next day, he becomes acutely aware of the delicacy that Martin has put him through. A powerful drama exposing the fragilities with regards to teacher – student relations.Ausente (Absent), Argentine 2011, 90m, Marco Berger

This powerful drama deals with the related issues of sexuality and repression. Atafeh and her best friend Shireen are desirous of expressing their love for each other. Atafeh’s brother, Mehran returns from a drug rehab program. He vehemently renounces his former life and joins the morality police. He denounces his sister Atafeh’s ‘evil’ influence and becomes obsessed with ‘saving’ Shireen. He installs surveillance cameras in the family home and even marries Shireen. The two siblings who were once close become embroiled in a struggle between liberty and control.Circonstance, Iran / États-Unis 2011, 105m, Maryam Keshavarz

In humanity’s search to increase productivity, sleeping has become a luxury and is even considered illegal, unless you have been registered as an official ‘dreamer’. Your dreams are recorded and the general public can watch them in ‘sleeping bars.’ We follow our hero as she struggles with her feelings of loneliness, seeking companionship, yet unsure whether she is in reality or is she dreaming?

Fantasy tinged light-hearted comedy about second chances. 15 years ago Zachary Wells was a promising student filmmaker. He had won an award at a prestigious festival for one of his earlier films. Due to personal demons he never lived up to the promise.His best friend asks him to substitute for him at the same festival. Zachary reluctantly agrees. Irate when he assigned a freshman dormitory, he finds solace in a passionate one night stand with a student. Yet this is short-lived as the next day he finds out that the student is submitting his film “Judas Kiss.”Judas Kiss, États-Unis 2011, 102m, J.T. Tepnapa

Surreal period drama set circa 1654, high in the forested mountains of Greece. A deserter from the Turkish army is taken in by the nuns in a remote mountain monastery. He is badly wounded and unconscious. Anthi, a novice, is asked by the Mother Superior to nurse him back to health. The Mother Superior intends to give him up to the Turkish authorities when he fully recovers. Anthi decides to help him escape into the forest. Then she reveals to him her terrible secret. An astounding debut feature about androgyny.

Documentary portrait of the little understood subculture of drag queens in New York City between 1987 and 1989. Through interviews and demonstrations of their performances we learn of various aspects of this culture and thus add credence to the concept that knowledge breeds understanding which in turn breeds tolerance. This is a visually stunning and profound statement that will be of value for many generations.Paris is Burning, États-Unis 1991, 78m, Jennie Livingston

This four-part T.V. miniseries is Israel’s answer to the American hit series “Glee.” The story is based on music of pop-legend Sviki Pick. On Meir’s 10th birthday, his mother Miriam ‘disappears’ and he cherishes the conviction that she abandoned the family to become a back-up singer for Svika Pick. As graduation from high school nears Meir’s heads to Tel Aviv to continue his search for his mother and ends up becoming a famous drag queen. Director packs universal wisdom in dealing with controversial topics in such a light-hearted and entertaining fashion.Mary Lou, Israël 2011, 150m, Eytan Fox

This powerful drama explores the tenuous and often tragic relationship between preadolescents and their teachers. 12-year-olds Juliette and Antoine compete for the attention of their teacher,Hélène Solenska. This film deftly points out the awkwardness inherent during this tender age when one is reaching childhood’s end and becoming an adult. La Robe du Soir, France 2009, 96m, Myriam Aziza

Ariane, now 46, has become rooted in her Plateau Mont-Royal apartment that she occupied when she was a student. It is run-down, been through many owners but she loves the view from her balcony. She receives a notice from the current owner that he is taking possession of the apartment. Having six months to move, she is faced with the seemingly insurmountable task of finding a new apartment. With over 25 years of accumulated items, she needs to decide what to keep or throw away. This film is sure to hit a chord of familiarity among most of us.La Fille de Montréal, Canada 2010, 92m, Jeanne Crépeau

Hugo has just recently lost a loved one.He had worked in a kitchen for minimal wages. Octavio is a middle-aged middleweight boxer. After mutually witnessing an accident they move in together. Octavio is diagnosed with a life threatening condition and is told to quit boxing. Hugo starts working in a pet shop and begins a flirtatious relationship with the boss’s daughter. The two men, total opposites in their nature, keep their respective secret from the other. When they are revealed the consequences are life-altering for both men.Mon Dernier Round (Mi Último Round), Chili / Argentine 2010, 87m, Julio Jorquera Arriagada

Tempestuous tale of desire versus repression that plays out as a torrential outpouring of a raging river breaking through all that is in its path. Major Penderton and his wife Leonora live on an American military base. He is impotent and a latent homosexual. She is unsatisfied and contemptuous. She loves horses and Private L.G. Williams is assigned to care for them. Williams has a penchant for riding horse-back in the nude, creating in Penderton both disgust and seething desire. Williams also spies on Leonora as she sleeps.

Satirical comedy about a prominent politician coming to terms with his discovery that he is gay. David Holst, Liberal Party chairman is devastated when he loses big at the elections to the Social Democrats. When David returns to his drab political routine he encounters Martin Kovac, young ambitious Social Democrat. One night David accepts Martin’s invitation for supper. A friendly debate leads to a kiss and ends with David spending the night. He must now make a life changing decision. The result is a delightful and humorous romp that plays out like a gay political Romeo and Juliet.

Octogenarian Michel Gagnon is a transsexual and has been attracted to women since the age of nine. In this charming little film he reflects upon his conquests, his past lovers, his sexual identity and growing old.

Saturday, 22 October 2011

Probably one of the best films on rape and legal indifference to this often ignored crime. It brilliantly shows what happens when innocence comes up against covert evil intentions. A woman meets a dashing dancer at a tango club. He walks her home, but she never makes it there in one piece. She is raped. Despite lawyers' rejecting her accusation, she finds a way to eke out her own revenge. It entails purposely getting beaten up by her rapist so that the legal system will wake up and take seriously charges pressed against him by her. Even her boyfriend loses interest in the devastation she has suffered. Her spiral down into depression is dramatically portrayed and is most impressive. Her rapist is a doctor, and it is his wife she befriends to get under his skin.

The mission of this festival is to celebrate and encourage the efforts of young filmmakers who concentrate their creativity in this unique and fascinating art form. To paraphrase: "when your knowledge of the work involved increases, your appreciation increases." Eric Goulet. To achieve this, the 3rd edition of the festival invited two special guests to give a conference / presentation on their respective fields of expertise.

Peter Saunders (of United Kingdom's ‘Mackinnon - Ian - and Saunders’) opened the festival with a behind the scenes look at the development of the puppets used in the films: Mars Attacks, Corpse Bride and The Fantastic Mr Fox (http://mackinnonandsauders.com).

Saturday afternoon Australian Paul Howell gave a demonstration and overview of his animation software "stop motion pro" (http://www.stopmotionpro.com) which has been used in several productions including Wallace and Gromit, Mary and Max and the upcoming Pirates. His demonstration also showed the various techniques used to create compelling stories filled with endearing characters. These are often achieved with the simplest means and resulting in creating personalities capable of expressing the full range of emotions. Emotions can be expressed through the use of stereotypes, costumes, music, dialogue and voice.

This year the festival presented 11 films that were nominated for an Oscar at the academy awards -- in two programs (five on Saturday evening and six on Sunday afternoon). Co Hoedeman was present to introduce his 1977 award-winning film "The Sand Castle."

75 films were presented in four categories in competition: academic (21 films made by students), independent (17), professional (16 films – mainly advertisements under one minute long) and professional (21 films presented in two programs). As well an award was given to the film that was the public’s choice. For list of films and winners please go to: http://www.stopmotionmontreal.com/. Overall the quality, originality and the next generation’s vivid imagination shows that stop-motion animation has a bright future ahead and that the Stop-Motion Film Festival fills an important space in the cultural tapestry.

Monday, 17 October 2011

San Miguel de Allende's Chamber Music Festival – from July 29th till August 14th 2011Review by Nancy SnipperOn Thursday, August 4, inside the Angela Peralta Theatre, the Miró Quartet enthralled the audience with their virtuoso performance of works by Schubert, Glass and Brahms.It was a daring program given the remarkable difference in compositional structure inherent in each piece.The evening showcased the quartet's mastery of both the contemporary and classical.Not even the rigorous demands of Phillip Glass' String Quartet #5 - the second piece in the program – caused even the slightest unevenness of execution. Never once did intricate technique overshadow the piece's dreamy expressiveness. It all seemed effortless. Yet only the most confident of chamber music ensembles would tackle such a piece.

"This piece requires great stamina and it lasts for over 30 minutes without a break during the playing," said cellist, Joshua Gindele who anchored the entire piece with consistently repetitive legato note bowing with miniscule melody variation. Like a metronome, Gindele perfectly anchored the rest of the ensemble, allowing the two violins and viola to play out a melodic line that magically created a myriad of moods.We embarked on an exciting emotional journey, despite the subtle hints of harmony within the progressive bar modulations."Glass is a minimalist. The melody doesn't change dramatically, yet he is able to take us through feelings of sadness, joy, hope, angst and more. We'll let you decide what the final answer is to the first question Glass asks through his music at the beginning of this piece," said violist, John Largess, who has been a member of the Miró Quartet for 14 years. Noting that his favourite piece to perform in the program was Schubert's, Quarttsatz in C minor, D 703, and Largess likened the lively number to a salad: "I love playing the Schubert. It's like a spicy salad, nutty, refreshing and full of lots of different ingredients."First violinist, Daniel Ching agreed: "It really is fun and it's a great piece to open up with as it is not long, and it has so many variations of rhythms and melody. In fact, it so successfully started the night off that the audience seemed to want another movement played in the composition - given the thunderous applause that followed the short piece."Schubert didn't continue composing more of the piece because he didn't like what he had written, so he just didn't finish it," explained second violinist, Teresa Stanislav adding she had little rehearsal time with the quartet, as she was askedto join them for the Chamber Music Festivalquite recently.Her playing was flawless. With astounding precision and exquisite expressiveness, she joined Ching, masterfully supporting his powerful playing throughout the entire program.

Their synchronicity was vividly and impressively illustrated in the Brahms' number: String Quartet in C minor Op. 51, No.1. A rich potpourri of polyphonic rhythms and melodies were beautifully sustained as both violinists intertwined the elements. Largess admitted the piece was thick with a lot going on. "Still, it is one of my favourites, but there is a lot of musical meandering and we all want to make sure on how to interpret this."Revealing that there is no real leader of the ensemble, Largess revealed: "We discuss the piece and often pass the ball over to the other to hear what each of us has to say. We just want to make sure the story in the music comes through. Sometimes, we don’t always agree, but that's what makes it dynamic - to hear another way of interpreting a line of music. "Laughing with great gusto Largess added, "We use our egos for the good."The audience was in love with the evening's performance; the applause wouldn't stop until the quartet reappeared for an encore. They chose Beethoven's Opus 135 Assai lento Cantantes tranquilo. It was Beethoven's final quartet, in fact, his last piece ever. So moving in its calmness at the beginning, yet interjected by a sudden rise of forte notes expressingpain and anguish, this utterly profound piece left the audience speechless for a second or two after the last note found its soulful finish.The ensuing applause reached its own crescendo.The Miró Quartet has garnered several prestigious prizes, including the Avery Fisher Career Grant, the only ensemble ever to be awarded such as honour. Founded in 1995, one can only imagine how many of us have been inspired by their performances. After all, they have played in all the world's concert halls. One can only imagine how many of us have been inspired by their incomparable performances.No wonder, they took their name from the Spanish painter, who according to Largess was, "Fresh, inventive, colourful and wonderful!"

Sunday, 2 October 2011

This short is totally enchanting. You have two guys living together. One is fat and a jock; the other is as skinny and nerdy as beanpole with a brain. The big guy wants the rake thin roommate to go out with him to have some fun. After all, it’s Friday night. He refuses to, so the big boy leaves.

The door closes and everything about the nerd comes to life. He changes his slouch-in-the-chair position to an upright one, and as he regally walks towards his room, he immediately appears in a pair of very tight tights. It’s very funny, as his legs are outrageously thin, He loves dancing – ballet dancing, jumping, pirouetting, stretching up to the ceiling – so far he ends up in space, dancing in the dark blue sky sparkling with stars.

As he dances he sings a song about how he loves to dance. He finally lands on the ground inside his apartment. Quickly trying to remove his tights, he is taken by surprise by his roommate who obviously stayed behind the door in the hall. Fat fellow opens the door abruptly and says: “I knew it!” What he knew, is left to our imagination, but if I had a roommate like that, I’d ask him to dance for me every night. JoonkiPark from the USA was the director. The dancer looked slightly Asian, and in fact as the credits roll, there’s a line that states: almost everything was created by Park. He’s a genius! “Friday Night Tights’ is remarkably humorous four-minute short, but you wanted it to last much longer.

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Note / Nota:

July 10, 2016:The beginning of a new and exciting chapter! Nancy Snipper's (a.k.a S.N.) first posting on her own blog: http://sntravelandartswithoutborders.blogspot.ca/**********************************************To see all articles on a specific topic, scroll down to LABELS and click on desired LABEL. Full articles will appear one after the other that pertain to that label.Keep scrolling down to view more articles, and at end of page, click on OLDER POSTS to read more.Enjoy!